Reducing Ethnic Profiling in the European Union - Open Society ...

Ethnic profiling by police in Europe is a widespread form of discriminationthat violates basic human rights norms. Ethnic profiling is alsoinefficient: it leads police to focus on racial and ethnic traits rather thangenuine indicators of suspicion, and results in stopping and searchinglarge numbers of innocent people. Fortunately, better alternativesexist—approaches to policing that are fairer and more effective. Thishandbook documents those approaches and offers guidance to help cutdown on discrimination and increase police efficacy.Reducing Ethnic Profiling in the European Union provides diagnosticquestions, field-tested ideas for reform, and proven models ofgood practice for reducing ethnic profiling. It is intended to help policeofficers, law enforcement agencies, oversight institutions, civil societyorganizations, and community representatives better understand thedynamics and costs of ethnic profiling, and aid them in developing newpartnerships, policies, and practices to address the problem.The nearly 100 case studies gathered in this handbook showthat efforts to address ethnic profiling can succeed. Such efforts notonly reduce discriminatory policing practices and outcomes, but alsoenhance the overall quality and efficiency of law enforcement.